a few dozens of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a few dozens of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to a small but indeterminate number of items. For example, you could say "I saw a few dozens of people waiting in line for the new iPhone."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

But we have only a few dozens of hands.

The New York Times

At isothermal conditions PET forms crystals, which all melt within a few dozens of K slightly above the isothermal crystallization temperature.

Polymer

This amounts to hundreds of droplets that measure only a few dozens of microns and that are emitted at speeds of the order of 10 meters per second.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Quasi-exact" results for the tensile deformation were attained by averaging of the stress-strain curves coming from the numerical simulation of RVEs containing a few dozens of ellipsoids.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

The zone of this distortion is limited to the immediate vicinity of the boil, being about 5 m in the aquitard which holds the boil's conduit, or maximum a few dozens of meters in the underlying aquifer.

Journal of Hydrology

Who could be against that?Well, to name a few, dozens of American and foreign companies, an ex-president, two ex-secretaries of state, some 20 members of Congress, plus Japan, the European Union and the Clinton administration.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

He has a few dozen of them.

The Guardian - Sport

"Hey there, Maisie, leave a few dozen of those pies for me," Annie hollered good-naturedly.

The New York Times

Only a few dozen of the 435 House seats are genuinely in play between the parties.

The Economist

Only a few dozen of the hundreds of men on board survived.

The Guardian - Tech

A few dozen of the clips have been uploaded to YouTube by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few dozens of" to indicate a quantity that is more than a handful but not a large number. It implies more than two dozen but is not as substantial as "many dozens".

Common error

Avoid using "a few dozens of" when you need to be precise about the quantity. If the exact number is important, use a specific number instead. For example, use "thirty-six" instead of "a few dozens of" if the number is known.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few dozens of" functions as a determiner phrase. It specifies a quantity that is more than just a couple but not excessively large. The phrase modifies a noun to indicate the approximate amount, and Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few dozens of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to describe a moderate quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase functions as a determiner, offering an estimation when precision isn't necessary. It finds common application in diverse contexts such as science and news, maintaining a neutral register. When aiming for alternatives, phrases such as "several dozens of" or "dozens of" can be used, bearing in mind the subtle differences in emphasis. While versatile, it's best to avoid "a few dozens of" when specific numbers are known to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several dozens of

Adds emphasis with "several", suggesting a slightly larger quantity than "a few".

a couple of dozens of

More specific, suggesting approximately two dozens, providing a more precise quantity.

dozens of

Directly indicates multiple dozens, removing the ambiguity of "a few".

a number of dozens of

Rephrases using "a number of" to emphasize an unspecified quantity composed of dozens.

quite a few dozens of

Adds "quite" to intensify the "few", suggesting more than just a few.

a handful of dozens of

Emphasizes a small, manageable quantity, though still referring to multiple dozens.

a good few dozens of

Indicates a satisfactory quantity, more than expected but still limited.

a small number of dozens of

Explicitly states that the number of dozens is small, reducing ambiguity.

a limited number of dozens of

Highlights that the quantity is not extensive, kept within certain bounds.

some dozens of

A more general term indicating multiple dozens without specifying exact quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "a few dozens of" in a sentence?

You can use "a few dozens of" to describe a moderate quantity. For example, "The bakery makes "a few dozens of cookies" every morning".

What's the difference between "a few dozens of" and "dozens of"?

"A few dozens of" implies a smaller number compared to just "dozens of". "Dozens of" suggests a larger, less specific quantity.

What are some alternatives to "a few dozens of"?

Alternatives include "several dozens of", "a couple of dozens of", or "many", depending on the desired level of precision.

Is it correct to say "a few dozen of" instead of "a few dozens of"?

While "a few dozen of" is sometimes used, "a few dozens of" is generally considered more grammatically correct and common, especially in formal writing.